Ukrainian politician: visit of the US Secretary of Defense to Ukraine could affect the situation in the Donbas and the Crimea

Sunday, August 20, 2017 9:30:10 AM

President Petro Poroshenko and Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak’s meeting with the head of the Pentagon, James Mattis, could positively impact the future of sanctions against the Russian Federation, as well as the situation in the conflict zone in the Donbas and the Crimea, stated Deputy Minister for Temporary Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons George Tuka in a commentary to 112 Ukraine.

According to Tuka, Mattis's visit to Ukraine is of a political nature, but according to his conclusions, we can expect progress on the settlement of the conflict in the Donbas and on the issue of the return of the Crimea.

"I think that, yes, proceeding from the fact that it is not the Minister of Agriculture, but the US Secretary of Defense himself, [and] besides a very famous combat officer. I hope that this will lead to the strengthening, on the one hand, of our Armed Forces, and on the other hand, of pressure exerted by the United States inside our country on those forces that only care about business interests, for whom the imposition of sanctions on Russia leads to losses," he said. He noted that the adoption of quick decisions on the Ukrainian issue after the meeting of Mattis with Poroshenko and Poltorak, including in the provision of lethal weapons, should not be expected.

"I do not think that this visit will lead to concrete actions tomorrow. Certain agreements will be reached. Perhaps they will be implemented with time. I think the general vision of the future of the development vector will be discussed," Tuka said. As previously reported, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis will pay a working visit to Ukraine on August 24. The head of the Pentagon will meet with President Petro Poroshenko and Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak.